Boone County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Normal · 43.9 | 53,202 people · 37th most distressed in Illinois
American Default Research

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Boone County, IL falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 43.9 — 1960th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within Illinois, it ranks 37th of 102 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 6 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Boone County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 82.8 — worse than roughly 83% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 82.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 83
Housing Cost Burden 50.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 73
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 49
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 44
Homeownership Rate 7
Economic Vitality 41.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 54
Rent-to-Income Ratio 11
Business Formation Rate 71
House Price Change (YoY) 15
Consumer Credit Distress 38.2
Debt in Collections 36
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 64
Credit Card Delinquency 49
Uninsured Rate 15
Subprime Credit Population 40
Structural Poverty 32.8
Unemployment Rate 96
Poverty Rate 27
Income vs. State Median 13
Child Poverty Rate 39
Disability Rate 30
Transfer Income Dependency 17

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Boone County
Boone County, IL 43.9 Normal —
Winnebago County, IL 60.4 Elevated +16.5
DeKalb County, IL 55.8 Elevated +11.9
Rock County, WI 49.2 Normal +5.3
Walworth County, WI 38.2 Normal -5.7
McHenry County, IL 37.1 Normal -6.8
Ogle County, IL 32.7 Healthy -11.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Boone County
Alexandria city, VA 43.9 Normal +0.0
Franklin County, PA 43.9 Normal -0.0
Newaygo County, MI 43.9 Normal -0.0
Warren County, NJ 43.8 Normal -0.1
Rensselaer County, NY 44.0 Normal +0.1

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Boone County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Boone County

Find an Attorney

Illinois State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Illinois State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-922-8757

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Boone County residents at no cost.

Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO)
Legal Aid Chicago (formerly LAF) 312-341-1070
Land of Lincoln Legal Aid 217-525-7151
Prairie State Legal Services 1-800-531-7057
Illinois State Bar Association Lawyer Referral 1-800-922-8757

Self-Help Resources

Illinois Legal Aid Online — Foreclosure Comprehensive self-help guides for Illinois foreclosure
IHDA Homeowner Resources Assistance programs and housing counselor referrals

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Illinois →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Boone County, Illinois?

    Boone County has a County Distress Index score of 43.9 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,960th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 37th in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Boone County?

    The primary driver of distress in Boone County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 82.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Boone County compare to neighboring counties?

    Boone County (43.9) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Winnebago County, IL (60.4); DeKalb County, IL (55.8); Rock County, WI (49.2).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Normal zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Boone County's score of 43.9 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

  • What data sources power Boone County's CDI score?

    Boone County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Boone County?

    Boone County, Illinois has a population of approximately 53,202 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.